Lorraine Hansberry

Lorraine Hansberry

The first African American playwright to create a realistic portrayal of African-American urban family life, as well as the first on Broadway • She was the first African-American writer, and the youngest American playwright to receive the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for her play (A Raisin in the Sun) • She died at age 34 and had completed only two play, with three other uncompleted

Her works dealt with many social issues of the 50s, including: • Racism • Feminism • Gender roles • The black family • And the pan-African movement • She helped to pave the way for other African-Americans who wanted to produce plays

Born in Chicago, Illinois • Her father once ran for Congress, and was a respected member of the African American community • Her mother was a former school teacher, and was active in politics • When she was 8 her family moved into an all white neighborhood • She attended a predominantly white public school

Their move into the white neighborhood lead to a legal battle because of something called “Restrictive covenant” that attempted to prohibit African-American families from buying homes • This struggle led to the Supreme Court case of Hansberry vs. Lee – they won, and it was ruled that African Americans could not bar African Americans from white neighborhoods

Hansberry attended the University of Wisconsin for two years • She became increasingly involved in radical political causes • In 1962 she mobilized support for the Student Non-Violent Coordination Committee that was struggling against segregation in the south. • She also spoke against the House Un-American Activities Committee and the Cuban missile crisis

Hansberry died of pancreatic cancer on January 12, 1965 • Over 600 people attended her funeral • Martin Luther King wrote a condolence letter for her funeral

Lorraine Hansberry